Federal Judge Rules that U.S. Airports Can't Deport Detainees

UPDATE (11:45 p.m. ET): A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that the government must give detainees at Dulles International airport access to lawyers, as well as temporary restraining orders to prohibit the deportations of any green-card holders for at least a week.

Another victory in Washington. US District Judge Brinkema ordered Govt to give detainees at Dulles Airport immediate access to lawyers.??????? pic.twitter.com/vluBP7hvBz

The American Civil Liberties Union has won its legal challenge against President Trump and his executive order to ban refugees from seven Middle Eastern and African nations. U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly in New York has granted a stay, meaning travelers from those countries cannot be deported. The ruling affects airports nationwide.

Update: Fed Judge says US can't deport anyone currently detained in airports as result of President Trump order. https://t.co/dn9hb9i5Qs

Protesters and politicians were demanding the release of detainees in airports across the country, most notably New York's John F. Kennedy International and Virginia's Dulles airport. The federal judge's ruling will cover any traveler who was en route from the countries included in the executive order and is being detained at U.S. airports.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article stated that the refugees detained in U.S. airports would be released on the condition of the ACLU court victory. However, the federal judge's ruling states that refugees cannot be immediately deported, it did not specify whether the detainees would be released. At least not yet. We apologize for the error.